ILONA AMOS

Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer and the team may have an important role to play in saving the planet on the 364 days when they are not pulling Santa’s sleigh, according to international scientists.

Researchers in Sweden have found that the effect of reindeer grazing on Arctic tundra could slow global warming.

The study was carried out in the Troms region, in the far north of Norway, where there are large populations of wild and domesticated reindeer.

Results show the cropping of vegetation by wandering herds has an impact on the amount of the sun’s radiation that is reflected off the earth and back into space – known as albedo.

Heavy grazing by the deer reduces the height and coverage of plants on the tundra, resulting in an increase in the amount of radiation reflected.

This has a cooling effect on the climate.

“Our theory was that heavy grazing by reindeer increases summer albedo, through a reduction in shrub height, abundance and leaf area index,” said lead researcher Dr Mariska te Beest, from Sweden’s Umeå university.

“The effect reindeer grazing can have on albedo and energy balances is potentially large enough to be regionally important.